Chapter 75

“That is a good idea. Go to your room and rest.”

Seiden set down his fork with a gentle smile. The maids cleared away the plates on the table and brought out dessert, yogurt pudding. Reinel glanced sidelong at Keiden’s spoon being the first to reach toward the pudding.

“Then I will be going now. Brother Seiden, Brother Keiden, have a good morning.”

“Yes, Reinel. Do not overdo yourself, and take it easy.”

“Sleep well, Reinel. Have good dreams.”

At the words good dreams, Reinel gave a slight hollow laugh, but said, “Yes. Thank you, Brother Seiden, Brother Keiden.” Turning her back on the dining room, her steps toward her room were quick.

When she entered her room after gently closing the door, the first thing that caught her eye was the Criashers flower. Standing before the dressing table, lightly touching its smooth petals, Reinel let out a faint sigh.

Because of this flower, she had come to know clearly what kind of situation Bain was in. But perhaps it might have been better if she had not known. If she had known her heart would become this uneasy and anxious, she would not have kept this flower in her room.

“It cannot be helped. I already know now. And in a way, it may be something better for the future. Because I came to know how hard you worked for my sake, Lord Bain.”

Forcing herself to be comforted, Reinel went and sat on the bed. Because she was still dressed in outdoor clothes, it was somewhat uncomfortable to lie down on the bed, but she lacked the will to change. Slowly smoothing the bed sheet with her hand, she flopped backward, and her eyes closed on their own.

She had certainly woken up, yet drowsiness was surging over her like waves. Reinel fell asleep just like that.

***

“Reinel, Reinel?”

A flustered tone sounded by her ear. Reinel slowly opened her eyes.

“Lord Bain?”

Surely the place where she had fallen asleep had been her own bed……. When she felt Bain’s warm hand and found herself in his arms, Reinel finally came to her senses.

“How did you come here? You suddenly appeared before my eyes.……This place is dangerous, so I would like you to return home.”

I will call my Master and have him take you home. 

At those words, Reinel fully came to herself. As she wrapped her arms around Bain’s neck and clung to him, Bain gave a small, embarrassed laugh.

“If you cling to me like this, it becomes difficult. It makes me not want to send you away. I missed you, Reinel, as though years had passed while I could not see you.”

“Lord Bain…….”

“But…… this place is dangerous. It is not a good place for you to be. You must hurry back. I will call my Master, so it would be best for you to return under his protection. Of course,”

He continued.

“If you came here by magic, then returning again by magic would also be a good way. Reinel, so do not stay here.”

It was not exactly the sort of thing to say while lowering his head and pressing his lips to Reinel’s forehead, but Bain was gentle from beginning to end. In his arms, held like a princess, Reinel felt embarrassed and shy.

But she could not remain here long. It seemed she had come here thanks to the Criashers flower, but if she was visible to Bain’s eyes, then that meant she would be visible to others as well, and if assassins burst in, she would at once be in danger.

Fortunately, the Mercenary King, who had been moving around the estate, returned alone. But upon seeing Bain’s posture, the Mercenary King only tilted his head and did not speak to Reinel.

“My disciple. Why are you standing like that? It looks as though you are embracing someone. Have you still not awakened from your dream?”

At that, Bain smiled faintly.

“It seems you cannot see Reinel, Master. Since she is visible only to me, it seems Reinel must have used magic to come here.”

“Hm? The one you are embracing is Lady Reinel Estrid?”

The Mercenary King recalled that he had not yet been able to thank Reinel. Although he still could not see her with his own eyes, if Reinel was here, then it was only proper to greet her.

“Lady Reinel Estrid. Thank you very much. Thanks to you, I was able to meet Melissa and my son. I do not know with what I should repay this favor……. If there is a way I may repay it, please tell me. I will not forget, and I will repay it.”

“There is nothing for you to be especially grateful to me for…….I only passed along the necklace in your place.”

When Reinel said that in response to the Mercenary King’s greeting, Bain smiled softly and pressed his lips to Reinel’s forehead. At the sensation of that soft touch sinking into her skin, Reinel trembled. It seemed Bain’s gentleness showed itself the same way even though Reinel had come to meet him through a dream.

“Reinel says she only passed along the necklace in your place.”

“Even so, that does not make the favor disappear, so I will certainly repay this debt of gratitude later, no matter what.”

The Mercenary King was utterly stubborn no matter what Reinel said. Repaying a favor was all well and good, but since it had been a kindness she had shown without any thought, it would not have mattered even if he did not repay it. As Bain watched the two of them, he opened his mouth with a smile lingering at his lips.

“Then how about making a wish for my sake, Reinel.”

“All right. What would you like to receive, Lord Bain?”

Bain put on an expression full of mischief.

“My wish is that you remain in a safe place, Reinel. It truly makes me happy to meet you like this, but……. before night comes, I hope you will return home under my Master’s protection.”

“Lord Bain…….”

“That much I can grant. I cannot see her, so it seems assassins will not be able to see her either, but…….”

“Wait a moment. I do not need an escort. I only fell asleep at home, so when I wake, I will return home at once.”

At Reinel’s words, Bain’s eyes widened a little. But soon the corners of his silver eyes curved brightly, and his ruby-colored eyes shone.

“Then that means you are in the middle of a dream? If so, that is reassuring, but just in case, it would still be best for you to wake before an assassin comes.”

“I only lay down on my bed, so I will naturally wake around one in the afternoon. I usually wake up at eleven, but no matter how late it gets, Emily will come wake me around one in the afternoon.”

Bain reached out and stroked Reinel’s forehead. It was only a light touch, but Reinel felt her heart pounding. As though he knew that feeling, Bain looked down at her and smiled softly.

“If that is the case, then I suppose we can talk for a little while. But because I am worried, it would still be best for you to return home by around one in the afternoon without fail. If you still do not wake from the dream by then, Reinel, my Master will protect you.”

“That Master……. is the Mercenary King Tailos?”

“Yes.”

While looking at the way the corners of Bain’s eyes curved so enticingly, Reinel’s cheeks reddened. Although he was said to be suffering from assassins, his beauty had not been harmed in the slightest, so he looked as though he were simply at home as usual.

‘To always maintain such an appearance…….that’s amazing.’

Even while being hounded by assassins, his bearing was neat. There was not a single sign of panic to be seen, and in the way he smiled gently, she could even feel composure.

But that was only Reinel’s thought. Bain was more anxious than expected; he simply did not show it. In truth, since one never knew when assassins might burst in, Bain was uncomfortable with the thought of showing his fiancée a killing scene, and so he wanted to send Reinel back quickly.

‘But if I do that, Reinel will realize that I am anxious. So even to give her confidence, I have to pretend to be at ease.’

“Sit here, Reinel.”

Though he was sleepy, Bain calmly yielded the chair. Reinel was safely moved from within his arms onto the chair. The Mercenary King Tailos watched that sight.

“How is it? Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?”

“No. There is only one chair here…… should you not be the one sitting here instead, Lord Bain?”

The corners of Bain’s lips lifted gently. He gazed at Reinel with a look full of affection and caressed her cheek.

At that soft, yielding touch, Bain let out a small laugh.

“Since you have come, of course you should sit, Reinel. I could never dare make a lady sit on the floor.”

“But still…….”

“Or else.”

Bain made a playful expression, took Reinel’s hand, and kissed the back of it.

“I can sit on the chair, so will you sit on my lap? I would not mind that…….”

“That would…….”

Reinel’s face immediately turned red. Looking at that face touched with a faint blush, Bain chuckled and tucked Reinel’s hair behind her ear.

“Is that a bit too stimulating? Since you came here, it makes me want to tease you too much. I missed you too much. That must be why.”

“Lord Bain…….”

Even the way Reinel hesitated and faltered was adorable. For a moment, Bain forgot that this place was the stage where he and the assassins would meet. As he caressed Reinel’s cheek with his cold hand, Bain slowly bent his waist.

Smack, when a light kiss touched her forehead once again, Reinel wanted to run away somewhere. That was because the Mercenary King was watching silently from the front, and Bain, with a playful expression, had his lips pressed to her forehead for a long while.

But even so, she was happy, and so Reinel was seized by the urge to enjoy this moment forever. Her desire to somehow repay Bain, who treated her so gently, bubbled up within her, and before she knew it, Reinel reached out and cupped Bain’s cheeks in her hands.

“My heart is pounding…….”

Bain whispered in a languid voice. Reinel, on the contrary, felt as though her own heart might burst.

“This time, I will kiss your forehead……. for you.”

At Reinel’s clumsy attempt, Bain smiled in pleasure, lifting both corners of his mouth. As he slowly closed his eyes, Reinel drew his face toward her by the cheeks and pressed her lips to his forehead.

It was only a light kiss, but when her lips touched him, Bain felt blood rush all through his face. Reinel’s lips were like soft feathers, and as the sound of his heartbeat grew louder and louder, a thrilling flutter swept over him. Letting out a shallow breath, Bain opened his eyes halfway and gazed at Reinel languidly.